Southern Lebanon Under Fire as Fragile Hezbollah Truce Holds

Despite a partial ceasefire arrangement with Hezbollah, Israel persisted with military operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, though it notably refrained from bombing Beirut. The restraint in the capital was part of a deal announced late Monday by US President Donald Trump, wherein Israeli forces agreed not to strike the city in return for Hezbollah halting its attacks on Israel. This diplomatic maneuvering followed warnings from Iran that Israeli military actions in Lebanon were threatening ongoing negotiations to end the broader conflict between Tehran and Washington.

Amidst the diplomatic developments, violence continued on the ground. The Israeli military reported intercepting two projectiles launched into northern Israel, while Hezbollah claimed it had targeted Israeli troops in the south. Lebanese authorities confirmed that Israeli airstrikes resulted in fatalities in the region.

The human cost of the conflict was starkly illustrated on Monday afternoon in Tyre, where Israeli air strikes hit structures adjacent to Jabal Amel Hospital. The Lebanese health ministry reported that four people were killed and 127 injured, including 39 hospital staff members, four of whom were in critical condition. By Tuesday, the area surrounding the hospital was a scene of total destruction. Twisted metal and concrete fragments littered the streets, which were otherwise silent save for the beeping of damaged vehicles and the crackle of severed electrical wires.

With the exception of a few local journalists, the streets were deserted. One woman, weeping, stared at an apartment building that had been reduced to half its former self. "I live there," she said, pointing to the rubble, before adding simply, "Used to."

Hospital director Dr. Wael Mroueh described the chaos of the attack. "We were working with patients and displaced people. Business was as usual, and suddenly, 'boom'," he recounted. He emphasized that the strike occurred without warning and denied the presence of any military targets nearby. "The Israeli enemy targets journalists, ambulance workers, medical staff. It makes no difference, and all it wants is to kick us out of our country," he stated.

Inside the medical facility, the aftermath was evident: corridors were strewn with shattered glass, ceiling panels had collapsed, and a row of incubators lay cracked from the blast's force. Just four hours prior to the strike, a baby named Fares had been born in the maternity ward. Swaddled in a blue furry blanket, the infant slept while his mother recovered nearby. His grandmother, Amal, spoke with pride and resilience. "It's true life is very hard, but we need to bear it," she said, looking at her grandson. "This is his country and land, and he [Fares] needs to defend it. This is a responsibility."

The Israeli military maintained that it had targeted "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure" in the vicinity. While acknowledging damage to the hospital, the army insisted the facility itself was not the objective. It further accused Hezbollah of embedding itself within civilian areas and infrastructure, though it provided no specific evidence to support this claim.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, the violence has taken a heavy toll on medical personnel; 128 paramedics and healthcare workers have been killed, and there have been 159 attacks on ambulances and medical facilities over the last three months.

Tensions remained high across other districts as well. On Tuesday morning, Lebanon’s civil defence agency reported that an Israeli strike hit its center in Kfar Sir, located in the Nabatieh district. Although the attack caused significant damage, including twisted metal beams and floor debris, there were no casualties.

Tragedy also struck the nearby Christian village of Qlayaa, where a dentist, his son, and his daughter were killed in a drone strike on the road between Marjayoun and Nabatieh, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

In response to the escalating situation, the Israeli military issued a new evacuation order for Nabatieh town on Tuesday afternoon. The army warned residents it was "compelled to act forcefully" against Hezbollah due to alleged "violation of the ceasefire agreement." While no further specifics were provided, the Israeli foreign ministry stated that Hezbollah had breached the Monday declarations by launching "multiple missile" attacks.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 16:11:05 UTC